Disturbed by the incessant attacks and killings of innocent people by the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the National Assembly to investigate the huge resource allocations to security agencies.
The NLC in a statement issued on Monday by its National President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said it was particularly disturbed by the recent ambush of three Emirs and the killing of one of them, the Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, by the insurgents.
Omar lamented that despite the huge budgetary allocations to security agencies, attacks by the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram has not abated.
“It is worrisome that these attacks are increasing even as the Minister of Finance recently announced that N130billion had been spent on security, especially on the military that have been saddled with the responsibility of confronting the prevailing armed insurgency in the North East led by the Boko Haram elements.
“The ease and precision with which these attacks are carried out, despite numerous security check points and the number of security personnel deployed in the zone is worrisome and unjustifiable.
“If high profile traditional rulers could be attacked so casually just as villages and towns are being razed even in broad daylight, what would be the fate of ordinary citizens?
“For us, we believe the authorities need to demonstrate a high level of commitment to safety of lives and property in the country generally but especially in the North East, by carrying out deep investigations into the activities of security operatives including military personnel while we reiterate our consistent call for proper equipping and morale-boosting measures of our personnel,” he said.
The NLC further described as a national embarrassment, the abduction of over 200 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State.
Omar, noted ‘That these children are yet to be rescued and delivered unharmed to their parents questions the commitment and credibility of those saddled with the search and rescue operation and negatively impacts on our national image.
“We are confident that our security agencies, including the military can effectively route out the insurgents if well equipped and motivated. After all, these same personnel not only rendered a good account of themselves in foreign operations, they played a decisive role in ending conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, etc.
“Although this war is slightly different, we are concerned that these same forces are finding it difficult to confront insurgency back home”.
However, the body acknowledge the fact that all Nigerians must take interest in what could be the obstacles to our collective resolve and commitment to the war on terror that has all but brought socio-economic activities in parts of the country to a halt.
NLC therefore, called President Goodluck Jonathan, to institute a full scale, transparent, thorough and unbiased investigation on the activities and challenges of our security forces, especially in the North East.
“We also call on the National Assembly to probe the financial allocations to the military and the utilization of these allocations, for clearly, the murder of the Emir of Gwoza has exposed the soft underbelly of these operations.
“We extend our deep condolences to the family of the Emir of Gwoza and thousands of other families including the families of our security operatives who are bereaved as a result of this costly war,” Omar said.
